15 Vintage Photos of Summer Camp

Written by Rachel Schneider on May 23, 2025 updated May 29, 2025

Three women at a campsite; two sit on steps reading a book, while one stands in a large canvas tent behind them, surrounded by beds and trees in a wooded area.

Parents have been sending their kids off to summer camps for more than 100 years, although the camp climate has certainly come a long way. What now costs a healthy tuition and requires prerequisites like lice checks and waivers used to be bare bones s’mores over the fire, bonding with buddies, and playing rock, paper, scissors to see who got to sleep on the top bunk. These nostalgic photos of summer camp throughout the decades take us right back to the good old days — we can practically taste the bug spray our counselors doused us in.

1. Holding a Skunk at Summer Camp in 1963

A young girl with glasses holds a skunk in her arms while standing outdoors. Trees and foliage are visible in the background. The image is in black and white. — MyDogGoldi

2. Camp Mountain Lake in North Carolina, 1977

Two boys in a wood-paneled room with four bunk beds; one boy sits on a top bunk smiling, while the other stands nearby. Clothes and belongings are scattered around the room. — Slow-moving-sloth

3. 1973 YMCA Summer Camp in Illinois

Three young people pose together outdoors. One stands at the back wearing a jacket, another kneels in the middle smiling, and the third sits cross-legged in front, wearing glasses and patterned pants. The photo is partially damaged on the right. — DenMother8

4. Summer Camp in the Mid-1930s

elevencharles

5. National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan, 1942

A young woman wearing a white blouse, cap, and high-waisted shorts stands outdoors, smiling and holding an ice cream cone. Tall trees and a birdhouse appear in the blurred background. — ocdshmuck

6. Florida Summer Camp for Children With Diabetes, 1970s

Two women prepare a syringe outdoors as a young boy stands behind them, watching intently in front of a white building with a screen door. — Present-Let-953

7. Chris Farley at Summer Camp in 1974

A group of young boys in matching white and red shirts pose outdoors with an adult man in a red shirt. They are kneeling and standing in two rows on grass, with trees in the background. — Determino

8. Summer Camp Cabins in 1951

A group of girls walks along a dirt path past green cabins surrounded by trees on a sunny day, suggesting a camp or retreat setting. — MyDogGoldi

9. Summer Camp in the ’60s

A group of teenage girls and two women pose outdoors, wearing matching yellow "Camp Rhoda" t-shirts and blue shorts or skirts, smiling under a large tree on a sunny day. — SummerJSmith

10. 1940s Summer Camp in Tahoe

A black-and-white photo of a family of four standing on a wooden porch: a girl, a woman, a man with his arm around the woman, and a boy. A dog sits in front of them. They are posed in front of a wooden wall. — justalittlelupy

11. Heading Off to Summer Camp in 1982

Two children pose at a street event; one stands with a boombox and a New York Yankees shirt, while the other sits on a toy car, smiling. Adults and a parked car are in the background, with sunlight casting soft shadows. — UserDeleted

12. Integrated Summer Camp in the 1940s

Eight boys sit around an outdoor table eating soup. Some are focused on their bowls while others reach for food in the center. Trees and wooden beams frame the background, suggesting a camp or picnic setting. — oldsoul8789

13. Writing Home from Summer Camp in Florida, 1950

Two shirtless boys sit side by side on wooden steps, writing or drawing on clipboards in their laps, with a tent and ropes visible in the background. — UserDeleted

14. YWCA Camp in Maryland, 1930

A group of children and a man pose with balls and wear swimsuits, some sitting on and in a vintage car, others standing nearby, outdoors on a sunny day. — FlamingoEvery5528

15. Summer Camp in 1900

Four women in vintage swimsuits and swim caps stand together in shallow water, smiling for the camera. The black and white photo appears to be from the early 20th century. Trees are visible in the background. — Casualways

Craving more summer reads?

If those campfire snapshots put you in a summertime mood, sink your toes into 10 Scenes From the Beach That Scream 1980s Summer, hop in the station wagon for 15 Photos of Summer Vacation in the ’70s, and keep the warm glow alive with 19 Nostalgic Photos That Show the Magic of ’90s Summer Nights.